MtbREVIEW.com supports IMBA and responsible riding. Please submit only legal
trails to our list. If you discover a trail posted on this site that is not
open for public mountain biking, please email our IMBA friends at
info@imba.com with detailed info.
They'll help us remove the unauthorized trail from the site.
Click here for info about keeping our trails open.
If this is the correct location, click "Save Point" below or type the nearest location (country, city, Zip, or land mark) and the map will pan over to the location if the location is found.
Save Point
Go to Nearest Location:
Lat:
Lng:
Bethel Road Trails
15 reviews
3.8 of 5
The Bethel trail system is a set of rehabbed motorcycle trails dating from the mid-70's, which incorporate several trails: Bethel, Lost (reviewed elsewhere), Couch, Briar Patch, Badlands, and Rattlesnake. Parts are packed dirt, parts are sandy, parts follow a beautiful creek, and other parts are very twisty. It's nearly all singletrack, with lots of bail-out points onto the main dirt road. The hills are few and low, with only one or two challenging climbs. There's a full description of each trail in the system at the web site. There is a motorcycle enduro held most years in May on some sections of the trails, but the rest of the year it it bicycle-only. The new Couch-Badlands loop is the best section, and has the least sand. The trailhead area has a bathroom (thank you USFS!) and a primitive campground. Bring water, lots in summer. The bottom line is that it's the only large, legal trail system on the Mississippi Coast.
From Exit 46 on I-10 north of Biloxi, take old Hwy 67 north for 2 miles then a right onto Hwy 15 north for about 8 or 10 miles. Watch for a set of yellow caution arrows on the right side of the road; about a half mile past these, there is a dirt road on the left with a USFS bike trail sign. The trailhead is about 2 miles up this road, on the left. If you go under the power lines, you've gone too far. There is a how-to-get-there road map at the web site.
Summary: Bummer – this trail hasn’t been reviewed in over a year.
Rode today (9/23/07) and the trail is in great shape. Slight bit of rain last night packed the trail down nicely. As I understand it the more it rains the better this trail is. There was only maybe 2 spots that the sand was a bit squirrelly. Actually we got poured on last lap and the trail shedded water quite well.
My first trip out to Bethel, and I must say I really like this trail. Since most of us NOMAMBO crew ride the Spillway weekly, I’d have to say it’s similar to that trail on steroids! The Briar Patch was my favorite – I really like the quickness of this trail – twisty switchback, tight singletrack. The burms on every corner make it a fun/fast trail. The Couch is a bit more scenic and more woody the Briar. Badlands is challenging enough with light climbs (enough to keep your heart rate going) yet it’s fun with some quick downhill sections.
Overall the trail is in fantastic shape and it was a great fun trail. So many things reminded me of the Spillway, Clear Springs and Alexandria. I’d rate the fun factor of this trail better than Comite. Much credit goes to the Gulf Coast Bike Club for doing an outstanding job in maintaining and building this trail system.
Recommended Route: Briar to Couch to Badlands. 2nd lap we rode Badlands backwards to Couch - I'd say this way is easier but it messes the flow up some. The original route is best.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Spillway, Oak Mountain, Ruston
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Summary: I got my start on trail riding at this trail last year, before Hurricane Katrina leveled a good portion of the trees in the trail. After a long timber reclamation project, the trails recently re-opened and are in the process of being cleared. Briar Patch is in great shape, as is Badlands (thanks to the Gulf Coast Bicycle Club members!). You don't get far into Couch before fallen trees halt your progress, though. Which is unfortunate, as this was my favorite trail before the storm.
Recommended Route: All you've got right now are Briar Patch and Badlands, unless you feel like stopping every once and a while and carrying your bike over some fallen trees.
Other recommended trails in the same area: none
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
The last review I just wrote was for Oak Mountain State Park, there isn't anything on the Review page to tell you what trail your writing on! At least I didn't bomb the rating.
This is a great trail in its own right. It sits in the flat forest of DeSoto National Forrest, so you can't expect Mountains. It has a great loop that you can do by combining three of the trails together: Briar Patch, Badlands and The Couch. It ends up 12 miles and is a great ride. Lots of twisty, tight singletrack in Briar Patch vs. long twisty singletrack in Badlands. Then you hit Couch and it has more technical roots and small bridge crossings.
This trail is the best in 200 miles from the area. I tried the Mobile trails and they weren't maintained since Hurricane Ivan (over two months ago). The guys at Gulf Coast Bicycle Club had the trails up and running within a month. Great job!
Summary: Since I've been stationed on the MS Gulf coast (about 8 months)I've ridden these trails many times. I do get a good workout from them and they keep my handling skills sharp. However, I'm originally from central PA and I really miss the mountains and hills, not to mention the seasons. I really wish there were more trails in the area, but these are well maintained and only about a 20 min. drive. When I take my wife with me, an enthusiastic, but novice level rider, we have fun at a slower pace and there are only a couple tricky spots where she has to dismount. I give these trails a descent rating based only upon the fact that they are the only ones around and, well, you gotta take care of what you have. I know if these weren't here, I'd go out of my mind.
Recommended Route: I 10 to exit 46. Left at the light to Rt.67. Turn right and go for about 2 miles. Turn Left onto 15 and go north for about 10-12 miles and the entrance to the trailhead is on the left side of the road. it's well marked and easy to find.
Other recommended trails in the same area: ...wish I knew...
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Summary: Rode this trail system for the first time last Friday, 8/13/04. With me for the ride were my 15 year old son and a good friend who lives in Tampa, FL. Being from the New Orleans area I am always excited to try new trails within a reasonable driving distance from the city, since we have only one trail in the metro area. First, let me start by saying that the day could not have been more perfect for riding. The sky was a clear blue with not one cloud to be seen, there was a light breeze out of the north, and the temperature topped out at 83 degrees. Fall weather in August. We started with the Couch trail, which mostly parallels a small creek and makes for a scenic and cool ride. Trail conditions were good, not alot of sandy areas but plenty of exposed roots. However these weren't too difficult to negotiate. The intersections of the different trails are clearly marked with wooden signs, however once you are on a particular trail the only markers are orange tape hanging from the trees. Can get a little confusing as there are long stretches of trail between the tape markers. Ended up riding the Couch trail twice, the second time getting some great video with my new Viosport helmet cam. Tried to ride the Turtle Back but the connector trail off of Briar Patch was completely overgrown. Ended up riding Briar Patch instead. Trail was a little overgrown. There were parts where branches hit you on the arms and in the face, but it should be okay once the fall and winter weather arrive and the growth dies back. There were also a couple of real sandy sections on this trail. Both trails however were very enjoyable to ride and not really that technical. Beginner riders as well as seasoned riders will have a blast. Plan on coming back to ride the Badlands and a couple of the others that we missed. Bring bug spray if you go. No mosquitos to speak of, but we found quite a few ticks on us after every ride. There are no facilities except a bathroom/outhouse. Better than nothing at all. Bring plenty of water as the nearest store is quite a ways away. Also bring something to pack out your trash in as there are no garbage cans at the trailhead. Despite this however, the trailhead was spotless. Will definitely be coming back.
Recommended Route: Took I-10 east from New Orleans and got off on exit 46, which is the exit for Keesler, AFB and the Beau Rivage casino. Head north away from the beaches and after about 3 to 5 miles you will see a sign for highway 15 on your right. Take the right onto Highway 15, a two lane highway, and continue on for about 10 to 11 miles. You will see some yellow arrows on your right marking a left bend in the road. The first dirt road on the left after that left bend is the road to the trailhead. It is road 426 and has a sign that reads Desoto National Forest Bike Trails. Take a left and the trailhead will be on your left about three miles down the road. Check out this link for maps and trail descriptions. http://www.gulfcoastbicycleclub.com/
Other recommended trails in the same area: Homochitto trail in Clear Springs, MS. Comite and Hooper Park trails in Baton Rouge, LA. Bonnet Carre Spillway trail, in Norco, LA.
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
3.8 of 5
4 of 5
3 of 5
4 of 5
3 of 5
2 of 5
